Best High Schools in Passaic, NJ

The city of Passaic, New Jersey is home to 4 high schools that serve students in grades 9-12: Passaic High School No. 12, Passaic Preparatory Academy, Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering, and Hope Academy. These schools operate within the Passaic City School District, which is ranked 540th out of 609 districts in New Jersey and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Among the high schools, Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering stands out as a top performer, consistently ranking among the best high schools in the state and receiving a 3-star rating. The school boasts exceptional academic achievement, with very high proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. In contrast, Passaic High School No. 12 lags behind, revealing a significant gap in academic performance across the district.

The data also highlights the challenges facing the Passaic City School District as a whole, with high rates of free/reduced lunch eligibility and a wide range in per-student spending, from $9,146 at Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering to $15,648 at Hope Academy. These disparities suggest the need for targeted interventions and equitable resource allocation to ensure all students in Passaic have access to a high-quality education.